Wire-twisting machine.



PATENTED MAY 12, 1908. L. SWANK.

WIRE TWISTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13.1907.

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Lafe Swank,

WIRE TWISTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY13,1907.

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No. 887,441. PATENTED MAY 12, 1908. L. SWANK.

WIRE TWISTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED MAY 13.1907.

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WWI 1W0 mwji BY Lafe Swan/ LAFE SWANK, OF ANDERSON,INDIANA.

WIRE-TWISTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 12, 1908.

Application filed May 13, 1907. Serial No. 373,366.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAFE SWANK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anderson, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Twisting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a machine capable of twisting a pair of wires together continuously and uniformly and in indefinite lengths and, after thesame is twisted, cutting it into desired lengths, the structure being especially designed for the production of wire pickets for ornamental wire fence.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 a plan thereof; Fig. 3 a detail of the drawing-out wheels; Fig. 4 a sectional detail of one of the wire supply reels; Fig. 5 a sectional detail of the twisting head; Fig. 6 a detail of the twister bar of the twister head, Fig. 7 a side elevation of the means for controlling the cutter heads; Fig. 8 a plan thereof, and Fig. 9 a sectional detail of the clutch mechanism.

In the drawings, 10 indicates a suitable supporting frame provided with ournal bearings 11 which support the trunnions of a head 12 within which are mounted two sup ply reels 13 and 14. Each of the reels is pro vided at its center at each end with a socket 140 shaped at its inner end to receive a tapered inner end 15 of a pivot screw 16 threaded through the frame 12, the con struction being such that said pins form an axis for the supply reel at right angles to the axis of the frame 12, and also such that, by tightening the screws into their sockets, a desired amount of frictional resistance may be applied to the reels so that the wire can not be drawn therefrom until the wire has been placed under a desired tension. The trunnion 12 at the forward end of the frame 12 is hollow, as shown in Fig. 5, and keyed thereto, beyond the forward bearing 11, is a worm 17. At the forward end of trunnion 12, and extending diametrically across the bore thereof, is the twister pin 18. Secured to the opposite trunnion of frame 12 is a driving pulley 19 by means of which the head may be rotated at any desired speed.

Mounted in suitable bearings on the main frame is a shaft 20 carrying a worm wheel 21 which meshes with the worm 17. Shaft 20 also carries a gear wheel 22 which meshes with a gear 23 carried by a shaft 24. Arranged immediately beneath shaft 24 is a similar shaft 25 which carries a gear 26 meshing with gear 23. Shaft 25 is carried at each end by a boxing 27 vertically adjustable in a suitable bracket 28 by means of a supporting screw 29 while shaft 24 is similarly supported at each end by a boxing 30 also arranged in the bracket 28. The two boxings 27 and 30 are normally urged apart by a spring 31, and the upper boxing 30is urged downward by means of a spring 32 backed up by an adjustable screw 33, the arrangement being such that the shafts 24 and 25 may be adjusted vertically in order to bring the feed wheels in proper alinement with the twisting head, and may also be adjusted toward and from each other in order to obtain the proper )1111 and pressure upon the product. Secured to the outer end of each shaft 24 and 25 is a feed wheel 35 which cooperates to act upon the product of the machine to draw the same from the twisting head. The feeding mechanism should preferably be of such character as to retain and fix the twist in the product, and I have found that for this purpose the most preferable shape of the feed wheels is that shown in the drawings, wherein the circumferential face of each wheel 35 is )rovided with a series of depressions 36 whic 1 fit the twisted portions of the product. It is desirable that the produet be cut into uniform lengths and for this purpose I provide a pair of cutter heads 40 provided with suitable mating cutter blades 41. The heads 40 are each carried by one of a pair of shafts 42 each provided with a gear 43 which gears mesh together. Journaled upon the lower one of shafts 42 is a gear 44 which meshes with an idler 45 arranged between said gear and the gear 26. Gear 44 is provided with a clutch member 46 adapted to engage with the clutch finger 47 carried by a collar 47 secured to the lower shaft 42 and adapted to be shifted longitudinally into and out of engagement with the clutch member 46 by a shifting lever 48 having a wedge 48, the arrangement being such that, upon a single rotation of the cutter heads 40, the finger will engage wedge 48 and be automatically withdrawn thereby.

Loosely journaled upon the lower one of shafts 42, is a sprocket wheel 50, and in alinement therewith on the shaft 25 is a sprocket wheel 51. Running over sprocket wheels 50 and 51 is a chain 52 which is provided at various points in its length with a series of fingers 53 which are adapted to engage either one of the pair of fingers 54 carried by that gear 43 which is secured to the lower shaft 42. Secured to sprocket wheel 51 are two diametrically opposite arms 55 ada ted to be engaged by a pin or pins 56 carriec by an endless chain 57 which passes over the sprocket wheel 58 keyed to shaft 25, and also over an idler 59 which may be secured at any desired distance from shaft 25 by means of a slotted bar 59 to which the stud-shaft of the idler 59 is secured.

The operation is as follows: Supply reels 13 and 14, carrying suitable supply of wire,

are mounted in the frame 12, and the ends of two wires are threaded through the hollow shaft 12, one of said wires passing upon each side of in 18, and the ends of the wires are passed etween the feeder heads 35. Thereupon the machine is set in motion and the rotation of pin 18 serves to twist the two wires together, the twisted wires being drawn for ward by the heads 35 at a speed. corresponding to the desired tightness of twist of the wires and said heads holding the wires so as to afford an abutment for the action of the twisting pin 18 and, as the twisted wires pass through between the heads 35 and are engaged by the depressions 36 in heads 35, the wires are set in their twist so that, when the twisted wire is issued from the heads 35 there is no tendency to untwist. In order to straighten the product it is passed between straightening rolls 60 of a well known type before it passes between the cutter heads 40. Intermittently the finger 56 comes in engagement with one of the fingers 55 and causes a half rotation of wheel 51, thus driving chain 52 forward so as to bring one of the fingers 53 into engagement with one of the fingers 54 and thus start the cutter head shafts in forward rotation so as to carry finger 47 beyond wedge 48 of lever 48, thus permitting said finger 47 to move into engagement with the clutch 46, which is being continuously driven forward by the train of gears connected therewith, whereupon the cutter heads are driven forward in unison with the forward movement of the twisted product and, when finger 47 again comes into engagement with wedge 48 of lever 48, it is automatically withdrawn from the clutch and the cutter heads are stopped until finger 56 again comes into contact with one of the fingers 55 and the operation described is repeated. Whenever the supply on one of the wheels is exhausted the machine is stopped momentarily and a new reel inserted and the ends of the wires connected. hen the point of connection passes through the machine the feeder wheels will yield apart sufficiently to permit the passage of the enlargement.

Other means than that shown for drawing the twisted wires from the twister head may be provided without departing from my invention, but I prefer the particular form shown. By lengthening and shortening the chain 57 and a corresponding shifting of the idler wheel 59, the length of time between successive actuations of the cutter heads may be varied and the lengths of the several portions of the product correspondingly varied.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a wire twisting machine, the combination, with a rotary frame and means carried thereby for supporting two supplies of wire, of means for engaging said wires and twisting the same upon each other, and means fitting the twisted product for holding the same against rotation and continuously drawing the same from the twisting mechanism during the action thereof.

2. In a wire twisting machine, the combination with a rotary frame and means carried thereby for supporting two supplies of wire, of means for engaging said wires and twisting the same upon each other, a pair of rotary heads adapted to fit the twisted wires and resist the twisting action of the twisting mechanism, means for continuously rotating said heads during the twisting action, and a cutter acting upon the twisted product and,

operated by said heads.

3. In a wire twisting machine, the combination, with a rotary frame and means carried thereby for supporting two supplies of wire, of means for engaging said wires and twisting the same upon each other, a pair of rotary heads adapted to engage the twisted wires and resist the twisting action of the twisting mechanism, and means for continu ously rotating said heads during the twisting action.

4. In a wire twisting machine, the combination, with a rotary frame and means carried thereby for supporting two supplies of wire, of means for engaging said wires to twist the same upon each other, means engaging the twisted. product for drawing the same from the twisting mechanism during the action thereof, cutting means adapted to engage the product, and means for intermittently actuating said cutting means.

5. In a wire twisting machine, the combination, with a rotary frame and means carried thereby for supporting two supplies of wire, of means for engaging said wires to twist the same upon each other, means engaging the twisted product for drawing the same from the twisting mechanism during the action thereof, cutting means adapted to engage the product, driving means for said cutting means, a clutch between the driving means and cutter, an endless chain carrying means for shifting said clutch, means for supporting said chain in shorter lengths, and means for driving from the drawing means.

. 6. In a wire twisting machii'ie, the combination, with a rotary frame and means carried thereby for supporting two supplies of wire, of a pair of feed wheels having formed in their mating circumferential surfaces a multiplicity of connected recesses adapted to fit the twisted product of the machine, means for driving said wheels, and means for twisting the wires together.

7. In a wire twisting machine, the combination, with a rotary frame and means car ried thereby for supporting two supplies of wire, of a pair of feed wheels having formed in their mating circumferential surfaces a multiplicity of connected recesses adapted to said chain v l in: the twisted product of the machine, means i for driving said wheels, a pin carried by the rotary frame transversely to the axis thereof and upon opposite sides of which the two wires are led to the feed wheels, for the purpose set forth.

8. In a wire twisting machine, the combination, with means for twisting a pair of wires together and for discharging the product from the twisting mechanism, of cutting mechanism for operating upon said product to cut the same into desired lengths, and means controlled by the operation of the twisting mechanism for operating said cutting mechanism to out the twisted product into desired lengths.

9. In a wire twisting machine, the combination, with means for twisting a pair of wires together and for discharging the prod.- uct from the twisting mechanism, of cutting mechanism for operating upon said product to cut the same into desired lengths, and means for operating said cutting mechanism to cut the twisted product into desired lengths.

10. In a wire twisting machine, the combination, of means for twisting a pair of wires together, cutting mechanism adapted to engage and cut the twisted product, said cutting mechanism comprising a rotary shaft, a rotary clutch member journaled thereon, a clutch finger carried by said shaft and adapted to engage said clutch member, means for automatically withdrawing said clutch linor longer ger, and means for intermittently partially rotating said shaft to withdraw the clutch linger from the influence of the automatic withdrawing means.

11 111 a wire twisting machine, the combination, with twisting mechanism for twisting a pair of wires together, of cutting mechanism for engaging and cutting the twisted product, said cutting mechanism comprising a rotary shaft, a clutch member journaled there-on, means for driving the same, a clutch linger carried by the shaft, means for automatically witlulrawing said clutch linger from engagement with the clutch member, a wheel journaled on said shaft, a belt carried by said wheel and provided with a finger, a finger carried by the shaft and adapted to be engaged by the belt finger, a second support for said belt, a second belt provided with a linger, means arranged in the path of the finger of the second belt for intermittently o e'rating the first belt, and. means for driving said second belt.

12. ln a wire twisting machine, the combination, with twisting mechanism for twisting a pair of wires together, of cutting mechanism for engaging and cutting the twisted product, said cutting mechanism comprising a rotary shaft, a clutch member journaled thereon, means for driving the same, a clutch linger carried b y the shaft, means for automatically witlulrawing said. clutch linger from engagement with the clutch member, a wheel journaled on said shaft, a belt carried by said wheel and provided with a finger, a finger carried by the shaft and adapted to be engaged, by the belt linger, a second support for said belt, a second belt provided with a finger, means arranged in the path of the finger of the second belt for intermittently operating the first belt, means for driving said second belt and an adjustable support for said second belt whereby its length may be readily changed.

In witness whereof, I, have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this twenty-sixth day of April, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and seven.

LAFE SVANK. [L. s] itnesses: i

An'ruun M. I [001), 'lnoiuixs MeMnANs. 

